A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE SENSING
The i³Sense project addresses the pressing challenges in monitoring the status of hygroscopic, bio-based materials such as wood. Traditional methods of measuring moisture and temperature use sensor systems attached externally to the surface of the material, resulting in indirect assessment of moisture content and typically unsustainable processing methods and materials. This necessitates the development of accurate, efficient, and environmentally friendly monitoring solutions for future wood and wood-based applications.
To address these challenges, i³Sense has developed further the use of Laser Induced Graphitisation (LIG) techniques to transform wood into an active sensing material by making it electrically conductive in a single, highly efficient step. Subsequent laser ablation allows scalable and intricate sensor designs, such as interdigitated electrodes, to be embedded directly into the wood surface. These electrodes, as small as 250-300 µm, enable capacitive measurements of moisture content during humidity cycling with adequate accuracy.
Figure 1: Capacitive moisture sensor produced by a special laser engraving technique. © ETH
Impact and effects
The simplicity and scalability of this approach are key factors in its potential for industrial adoption. By enabling multiple sensors designs on the surface of wood using a simple, low-cost CO2 laser process, manufacturers can seamlessly integrate intelligent sensing capabilities into load-bearing components for applications in construction, automotive, and sports equipment. This eliminates the need for external sensor systems, reducing material waste and increasing the sustainability of bio-based materials. The vision of the i³Sense project is becoming a reality: wood is no longer a passive structural material, but an active participant in monitoring its status. This innovative approach has laid the foundation for a new generation of sustainable, intelligent materials that reproduced using sustainable and efficient processing technologies.
Project partner
More details
Lead Partner:
Wood K plus - Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH
Project Management:
Martin Riegler, PHD
Project partners:
BOKU University Vienna, ETH Zürich, JKU Linz, Mendel University Brno, Stora Enso Wood Products GmbH
Funding Programme / Project ID:
FFG, KWF, Land NÖ, Land OÖ, BMK, BMAW
This success story was provided by the center management and by the mentioned project partners for the purpose of being published on the FFG website. Wood K plus is a COMET Center within the COMET –Competence Center for Excellent Technologies Programme and funded by BMK, BMAW and the provinces of Carinthia, Lower Austria and Upper Austria. The COMET Programme is managed by FFG. Further information on COMET: www.ffg.at/comet